Tether ball

ABSTRACT

A ball is provided having a tether fastening device, such as a ring plate, affixed to the surface of the ball by a pair of orthogonally oriented fastening strips. Each of the fastening strips has an opening therein, and the strips are located over the ring plate. A portion of the ring plate extends through the openings, and the fastening strips are bonded to the ball body. The fastening strips are preferably oriented at substantially 90* with respect to each other, and at least one cover is positioned over the ball body and over the fastening strips. At least one cover also has an opening therein positioned with the ring plate extending through the cover opening, and the cover is bonded to the ball body to provide a strong and uniformly resilient tether ball. Other embodiments involve either the use of a pair of intersecting nylon cords which partially encircle the ball body and have tethering loop portions extending through the strip and cover openings or a plug threaded into the ball body and having an integral tethering eyelet in alignment with the opening in the strip and cover openings. In yet another embodiment, the ball body includes an outer jute lining having all but a predetermined portion thereof bonded to the ball body. Spaced apart openings in the unbonded portion of the lining receive an elongated flexible stem having an aperture at each end thereof, with one of the apertured ends passing through the other apertured end adjacent the outer surface of the lining. The ball may be used as a sewer ball, boat bumper, float for fish nets, or in games and athletic events.

United States Patent Minchin TETHER BALL [72] Inventor: Kenneth R. Minchin, 1118 West Coronado Rd., Phoenix, Ariz. 857l8 [22] Filed: I May 19, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 144,984

[52] 0.8. CI. ..273/58 C, 43/43.1, 119/29, 273/29 A [51] Int. Cl. ..'....A63b 43/02, A63b 69/38 [58] Field of Search ..273/58, 95 A, 26 E, 200, 40, 273/196, 197, 198, 65;43/43.l; 119/29 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,582,983 5/1926 Hamblet ..27 3/58 C FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 328,155 4/1930 Great Britain ..273/58 C Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Attorney-Donald A. Kettlestrings, Martin Fleit, Jim W. Gipple, Harvey B. Jacobsen, Jr., Ronald D. Cohn, and John S. Hale [57] ABSTRACT A ball is provided having a tether fastening device,

[451 Sept. 26, 1972 such as a ring plate, affixed to the surface of the ball by a pair of orthogonally oriented fastening strips. Each of the fastening strips has an opening therein, and the strips are located over the ring plate. A portion of the ring plate extends through the openings, and the fastening strips are bonded to the ball body. The fastening strips are preferably oriented at substantially 90 with respect to each other, and at least one cover is positioned over the ball body and over the fastening strips. At least one cover also has an opening therein positioned with the ring plate extending through the cover opening, and the cover is bonded to the ball body to provide a strong and uniformly resilient tether ball. Other embodiments involve either the use of a pair of intersecting nylon cords which partially encircle the ball body and have tethering loop portions extending through the strip and cover openings or a plug threaded into the ball body and having an integral tethering eyelet in alignment with the opening in the strip and cover openings. In yet another embodiment, the ball body includes an outer jute lining having all but a predetermined portion thereof bonded to the ball body. Spaced apart openings in the unbonded portion of the lining receive an elongated flexible stem having an aperture at each end thereof, with one of the apertured ends passing through the other apertured end adjacent the outer surface of the lining. The ball may be used as a sewer ball, boat bumper, float for fish nets, or in games and athletic events.

2 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTED E Y 3.693.972

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PATENTEDsms I972 6 93, 97 2 SHEET 7 UF- 7 INVENTOR KENNETH R MINCHIN ATTORNEYS TETI-IER BALL This invention relates to tether balls and more'particularly to a tether .ball construction for permitting a rope or similar flexible line to be tied to the tether ball.

Tether balls are well known in the art, and it is commonly known to connect a tethering cord or line to a ball for various purposes. Examples of such well known tether ball arrangements are described in U. S. Pat. Nos. 2,858,249; 2,941,805; 3,351,343; and 3,397,887.

Although many such tether ball constructions are known, they frequently become damaged after heavy use, and the ball'then becomes disconnected from the tether.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a ball and means on the ball of enabling a tether to be fastened to the ball to provide a strong, durable, long-lasting and uniformly resilient tether ball.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages are realized and attained by .the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

To achieve these and other objects, the present invention provides a resilient ball body having a tetherreceiving means positioned thereon. The tether-receiving means, e.g. a ring plate, is affixed to the ball body by means of two orthogonally oriented fastening strips that are positioned over the ring plate and which are bonded .to the ball body. A cover having an opening therein is positioned over the ring plate so that the ring plate extends through the cover opening. The cover is also bonded to the ball body to provide a strong and durable tether ball.

More specifically, the invention provides for a tether ball including a resilient ball body having a substantially spherical external surface; a ring plate having a base shaped to conform with a portion of the exterior surface of the ball body and having a loop integral with the base for receiving a tether; a first fastening strip having an opening therein positioned with the loop extending through the opening, the first strip being located over the ring plate base and being bonded to the exterior surface of the ball body; a second fastening strip having an opening therein bonded to the exterior surface of the ball body and positioned with the loop extending through the second strip opening, the second strip being located over the ring plate base, over a portion of the first fastening strip and being oriented substantially at 90 with respect to the first fastening strip; and at least one cover positioned over the ball body and over the first and second fastening strips and having an opening therein positioned with the loop extending through the cover opening, the cover being bonded to at least the ball body to provide a string and durable tether ball.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 but only partially assembled;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 in FIG. 2 but illustrating the embodiment completely assembled with a cover;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 but only partially assembled;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 5 but illustrating the embodiment completely assembled;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of still another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 but in an assembled condition;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 but only partially assembled; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 11- 11 in FIG. 11 but illustrating the embodiment completely assembled with a cover.

With reference now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIGS. l-3 a first embodiment of the invention. A ball body 10 having a substantially spherical external surface is provided. The ball body may be hard or resilient depending upon the use intended for the tether ball.

For example, tether balls constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention may be used as sewer balls, boat bumpers, floats for fish nets, practice balls for athletic games or as tether balls that are used in games requiring the use of balls positioned at the end of a tether. As an example, a tennis ball manufactured according to I.L.T.F. specifications, may be used as the ball body of this invention.

A ring plate 12 made of rubber, elastomer, or other suitable material is positioned on the surface of ball body 10. The ring plate has a base 14 shaped to conform with a portion of the exterior surface of the ball body and also has a loop 16 integral with base 14 and extending outwardly from the base for receiving a tether, rope, or similar flexible line (not shown).

After ring plate 12 has been positioned on the surface of ball body 10, a first fastening strip 18 .having an opening 20 2 therein is positioned with loop 16 extending through opening 20 and with strip 18 being located over ring plate base 14. The first fastening strip may be made of any suitable material, but it is preferably made of rubberized jute. Fastening strip 18 is then bonded to the exterior surface of ball body 10 by vulcanization or other conventional bonding methods.

A second fastening strip 22 having an opening 24 therein and made of any suitable material is then positioned with loop 16 extending through opening 24. Second fastening strip 22 is also located over ring plate base 14 and is positioned at substantially with respect to first fastening strip 18. The second fastening strip is then bonded by vulcanization or other conventional means to the exterior surface of ball body 10.

A first cover 26 having an opening 28 therein is then positioned over the ballbody and over first and second fastening strips 18 and 22. Cover 26 is also positioned with loop 16 extending through cover opening 28, and

the cover is then bonded by vulcanization or other conventional means to ball body 10. Alternatively, cover 26 may also be bonded to portions of first and second fastening strips 18 and 22.

In the event thatcover 26 is formed as shown in FIG. 1, a second cover 30 is provided and is bonded tothe exterior surface of ball body to complement cover 26 and to cooperate with cover 26 in covering entire ball body. The extremely string bonding between the ball body and fastening strips 18 and 22 together with the 90 orientation of the fastening strips with respect to one another provide an extremely strong holding mechanism for ring plate 12. As a result, the tether ball of this invention can be subjected to extremely hard wear without causing the tether (not shown) to be disconnected from the'ball.

Ring plate, 12 can be made of any suitable material, but nylon'provides a particularly strong and wear-resistant ring plate. Various materials can also be used for first and second fastening strips l8 and 22 and for covers 26 and 30. Rubberized jute is one preferred material for use in strips 18 and 22. Covers 26 and 30 may also be formed from a rubberized material so that strips 18 and 22 and the covers can be vulcanized to ball body 10 and to each other to provide a strong and durable tether ball.

Another'embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4-6. Again, a ball body 10 having a substantially spherical external surface is provided. A first cord of nylon or other suitable material 32 is positioned around at least a portion of the circumference of ball body 10, and a cord loop 34 is provided substantially midway between the ends 36 and 38 of first cord 32.

First fastening strip 18 with opening 20 therein is then positioned over first cord 32 with cord loop 34'extending through opening 20' in the first fastening strip. Strip 18 is then bonded to the exterior surface of ball body 10. As in the previous embodiment, strip 18 may be of any suitable material but is preferably comprised of rubberized jute and is bonded to the ball body by means of vulcanization.

A second cord 40 of any suitable material such as nylon is then positioned around at least a portion of the circumference of ball body 10 and at substantially 90 1 with respect to firstcord 32. A cord loop 42 is formed by second cord 40 substantially midway between the ends of the second cord, addthe cord loop 42 is positioned over first cord loop 34.

Second fastening 'strip 22 is then positioned over second cord 40 with first cord loop 34 and second cord loop 42 extending through opening 24 in the second fastening strip. Strip 22 is also positioned substantially at 90 with respect to first fastening strip 18, and the second fastening strip is bonded at least to the exterior surface of ball body 10. Second fastening strip 22 may also be bonded to contiguous portions of first fastening strip 18.

Covers 26 and 30 are then positioned as described with respect to the first embodiment and the covers are bonded to the ball by vulcanization or other conventional means as previously described to form another embodiment of this invention.

Another embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in FIGS. 7-9. As here embodied, a ball body 10 is provided and a lining 48 is bonded to the ball body over all but a predetermined portion of the ball body surface. A pair of stem-receiving apertures 50 and 52 are provided in lining 48 immediately adjacent to that portion of the lining that is not bonded to the exterior surface of the ball body.

An elongated stem 54 having openings 56 and 58 at first and second ends 57 and 59 thereof is initially positioned with first end 57 passing through stem-receiving apertures 50 and 52 and passing beneath the unbonded portion of lining 48. First end 57 of stem 54 is then passed through opening 58, and second end 59 of the stemis then pushed down the length of the stem until second end 59 is positioned adjacent to lining 48.

As a result, first end 57 of the stem extends outwardly and away from the ball to permit a tether (not shown) to be fastened through opening 56 of the stem. Alternately; additional lining material 60 may be bonded to the ball and over second end 59 of the stem in order to provide for increased strength.

Lining 48 may be composed of various known materials and jute or rubberized jute is one example of a material that can be used.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 10-12. In this embodiment, a ball body 10 is provided, and an insert 66 is affixed to the ball body in any conventional manner. Insert 66 maybe made of nylon or metal, for example, and it is positioned substantially flush with the external surface of ball body 10.

Insert 66 defines a cylindrical chamber 68 having an inner closed end 70 and an outer open end 72. A

threaded wall 74 is also provided on the. interior surface of the insert.

A threaded plug 78 having an eyelet 80 for receiving and holding a tether (not shown) extends into the engages threaded wall 74 of chamber 68. The dimensions of eyelet 80 are such that the eyelet fits totally within the chamber and completely within the bounds of the external surface of ball body 10. As a result, plug 78 does no extend beyond the external surface of the ball body and does not interfere with hitting of the tether ball.

In order to insure that plug 78 remains in position within insert 66, locking means 82 may be positioned within the insert to hold the plug in position. The locking means may be formed as a flexible metal washer, for example, to engage the threads of plug 78.

In addition to bonding insert 66 to ball body 10, orthogonally positioned strips can also be used as in the previously described embodiments. For example, a first fastening strip 84 having an opening 86 therein can be positioned with the opening over insert 66 and bonded to the exterior surface of ball body 10. A second fastening strip 88 having an opening 90 therein is then positioned with opening 90 over insert 66 and at substantially 90 with respect to the first fastening strip 84. The secondfastening strip is then bonded to the exterior surface of ball body 10. Finally, at least one cover 92 having an opening 94 therein is positioned over the first and second fastening strips and with opening 94 over insert 66. The cover is then bonded to ball body 10 to provide a strong and durable tether ball.

As in the previously described embodiments, first and second fastening strips 84 and 88 are preferably made of rubberized jute. These fastening strips and the cover are also preferably vulcanized to ball body 10 as previously described.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details shown and departures may be made from such details without departing fro the principles of the invention or without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What is claimed is:

l. A tether ball, comprising:

a ball body having a substantially spherical external surface;

a lining having all but a predetermined portion thereof bonded to the exterior surface of the ball body and having a pair of stem-receiving apertures immediately adjacent to said predetermined unbonded portion;

an elongated stem having openings at first and second ends thereof and having said first end positioned through the stem-receiving apertures and beneath said predetermined portion of the lining and extending through the opening at the second end of the stem; and

said second end being positioned adjacent to the lining whereby the first end extends outwardly away from the ball to permit a tether to be fastened through the opening at the first end.

2. A tether ball as in claim 1 wherein the lining is comprised of jute and further including a least one additional layer of jute over said predetermined unbonded portion. 

1. A tether ball, comprising: a ball body having a Substantially spherical external surface; a lining having all but a predetermined portion thereof bonded to the exterior surface of the ball body and having a pair of stem-receiving apertures immediately adjacent to said predetermined unbonded portion; an elongated stem having openings at first and second ends thereof and having said first end positioned through the stemreceiving apertures and beneath said predetermined portion of the lining and extending through the opening at the second end of the stem; and said second end being positioned adjacent to the lining whereby the first end extends outwardly away from the ball to permit a tether to be fastened through the opening at the first end.
 2. A tether ball as in claim 1 wherein the lining is comprised of jute and further including a least one additional layer of jute over said predetermined unbonded portion. 